Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers

Are you an avid reader looking for your next "fix"? Can't bear to be without some form of reading material in your spare time? Welcome to my world! Whether you are seeking a new book to "feed your need", or you are an author seeking an unbiased point of view on your own recent masterpiece, this is the place to be. With life as with books, you never know where the next step might take you...

Monday, October 16, 2017

Welcome back to another exciting day here at Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers.

Today, we're joining a blog tour already in progress from the folks over at Penguin Young Readers. It stars the amazing Children's Non-Fiction Picture Book series Ordinary People Change the World by Brad Meltzer and highlights memorable "characters" from our past still affecting our present in ways you may or may not have known, all in an eye pleasing package with smiles, and humor to boot! It's in that newish category of EDUtainment and it really leaves its mark, but you don't have to just take MY word for it. RIGHT NOW, you'll find these titles throughout the blogosphere in reviews, spotlights, and more.

In today's spotlight, we're paying tribute to TWO famous figures from our past. One fought his battles through peace, while the other forged paths through our nation never dreamed possible (let alone by a woman!). First up, our lady of the hour...

Sacagawea, the only Native American included in Lewis and Clark’s historic expedition, joins the inspiring list of heroes whose stories are told in thisNew York Times Bestselling biography series.

Sacagawea was the only girl, and the only Native American, to join Lewis and Clark’s Corps of Discovery, which explored the United States from the Mississippi River all the way to the Pacific Ocean in the early 1800s. As a translator, she helped the team communicate with members of the Shoshone tribe across the continent, carrying her child on her back the whole way. By the time the expedition arrived at the west coast, Sacagawea had proved that she truly was a trailblazer.

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If this isn't an inspiring story for young ladies, I don't know what is! We learn how this young lady was actually given her name (not at birth!) and the myriad of ways it was spelled (who'd have thought!). We discover the atrocities of war even back then (ever sold to your future husband? Didn't think so...), and how motherhood could be on the new frontier (travel the wilderness with a baby on YOUR back and see how far you get!). We even learn that the images we've come to recognize of this fair Indian maiden...may not exactly be of this fair Indian maiden (I know! It blew my mind too!)...and while all that is sinking in, we are entertained as well with the lovely and at times comical illustrations that fill ever two page spread. Definitely a life story you don't want to miss.

Next up on our feature today is the young old man (but eventually old old man) who was known for fighting violence with...peace? Yes, peace...or more precisely Satyagraha...

Gandhi’s peaceful revolution is the focus of this picture book, part of the inspiring New York Times bestselling biography series about heroes. As a young man in India, Gandhi saw firsthand how people were treated unfairly. Refusing to accept injustice, he came up with a brilliant way to fight back through quiet, peaceful protest. He took his methods with him from South Africa back to India, where he led a nonviolent revolution that freed his country from British rule. Through his calm, steady heroism, Gandhi changed everything for India and inspired civil rights movements all over the world, proving that the smallest of us can be the most powerful.

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I've read a few Children's Non-Fiction books on this particular gentleman, and while most specifically focus on his AMAZING walk to the sea (peaceful salt protest...read up on it!), this one presented a more well-rounded picture of his life and times, yet kept it accessible for the target audience. I mean, yes...he was a man who sought peace over violence, but did you know that as a boy, we studied in London? Did you know his course of study was the Law? Did you know that he actually took a case to trial (though he didn't finish it)? Betcha didn't...but now you DO and that is only the top of the iceberg in this amazing little book that will not only educate but inspire...and couldn't we all use a little more peace-not-violence talk about now?

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About the author...

Brad Meltzer is the New York Times bestselling author of Heroes for My Son, Heroes for My Daughter, and a number of suspense novels like The House of Secrets. He is also the host of the History Channel television shows Brad Meltzer's Decoded and Brad Meltzer's Lost History. He lives in Florida with his wife and their three children.

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About the illustrator...

Christopher Eliopoulos began his illustration career at Marvel Comics, and has worked on thousands of comics, including Franklin Richards: Son of a Genius, Pet Avengers, Cow Boy, and Cosmic Commandos, all of which he wrote and illustrated. He lives in New Jersey with his wife and their identical twin sons.

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Special thanks to Rachel at Penguin Young Readers for the chance to bring this tour to you as well as the review copy. (THANKS!) For more information on this title, the series, the author, the publisher, or the tour, feel free to click through the links provided above. This title is available now via Dial Books, an imprint of Penguin Young Readers, so be on the lookout for it on a bookstore shelf or virtual retailer of your choosing.

Today, we're jumping ahead to a MUST READ Middle Grade Fiction release coming March 2018! That's right....March, next year. Hey, it IS already October as it is, and the new year will be upon us before you know it, so if I've READ ALL ABOUT IT already, I think it's high time to share the excitement. Agreed? Great! So, let's get to it. Today's book of choice is ready to brighten up the corners of your life with a tale straight from the heart. Ladies and gents, Middle Grade readers of various ages, make way for the featured title...

It’s 1969 and ten-year-old Davy is in a predicament. With two weeks remaining of the summer holidays, he’s expelled from the public pool for sneaking into the deep end and almost drowning. How will he break the news to his hard-working single mother? She’s at the diner all day, Davy has no friends, and he’s too young to stay by himself.

The answer lies in his rescuer, mysterious thirteen-year-old Ellis Wynn. Visiting her Grammy for the summer, Ellis offers to babysit Davy. She teaches him about “corners”–forgotten or neglected areas fixed up special. Together, the kids tackle several “corners” and Davy learns what it means to bring joy to others.

Davy begins to wonder, though. Why does Ellis want to be his friend? Why doesn’t she ever smile? And is Davy just one of Ellis’ “corners?”

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This is a story about love and loss, wrapped in a blanket of friendship, and delivered under the guise of just being another tale of a summer gone by. Trust me, it's not.

Young Davy doesn't start his summer hoping to be booted from the public pool, but that is where he finds himself after his almost-near-death-experience. Why almost? Well, there happened to be a young girl with a quick eye, and even surer strokes that whisked him from his almost-watery-non-grave (presumably a lifeguard would have noticed in time)...and that would be Ellis. We quickly learn that nothing really gets passed her and I mean that in the best way possible. She strives to bring sunlight to everyone's day but not in the overbearing-smile-or-I'll-never-leave-your-side sorta way. Oh no. She's much more subtle, with much more lasting effects, and simply just...MUCH MORE. She's a sweetheart that has her own bumps and bruises, yet despite her own worries, pushes herself to help others. It's her way of dealing and while not the most direct, one certainly can't say it isn't healthy. The friendship that he and she build is heart warming...as are the strength found in that bond oh so many years later.

In the end, I was as charmed by Ellis' magical corners as I was by the memories shared. The writing style reminds me of the storytelling method used in The Princess Bride, though this is far more reality based. While Davy and Ellis are the main characters once upon a time, Davy is also the narrator in the here-and-now recollecting that special summer to his young son...complete with the request to leave out the yucky parts. *smirk* The things they accomplished both for themselves and for others will bring a smile to your face. The miscommunications and misunderstandings will bring a wee bit of frustration but also laughter, as the truth is finally understood. It may even inspire the next generation to start a corner mission of their own...after all, who couldn't use a place to go to truly be themselves. Recommended for Middle Grade readers, from kiddos to adults.

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About the author...

Corrina Austin is a retired elementary school teacher, living in beautiful South-Western Ontario, Canada. She has Bachelor’s degrees in both English and Education. Corrina has published several short stories and essays and was twice the recipient of grants for a novel in progress from the Ontario Arts Council. “Corners” was inspired by her experiences as a child growing up in the 1960’s and contains many artifacts from her memories of those times. While honing her craft as a writer, Corrina strives to infuse the ordinary with beauty, whimsy, and connection.

Special thanks to the team at Dancing Lemur Press LLC for the ARC for review. (THANKS!) For more information on this title, the author, or the publisher, feel free to click through the links provided above. This title is set to release MARCH 2018 (as of this post), so mark your calendar or pre-order your copy today!

Saturday, October 14, 2017

Today, we're joining a Great Escapes Book Tour already in progress starring the first title in a NEW Cozy Mystery series from author Allison Brook. From the cover along, it's a perfect fit for the current reading season, but from the sound of things, it'll also speak to your bookish heart (Hello!? HAUNTED LIBRARY!). Ready to add to your wish list? Today's title in the spotlight is on deck...

Carrie Singleton is just about done with Clover Ridge, Connecticut until she's offered a job as the head of programs and events at the spooky local library, complete with its own librarian ghost. Her first major event is a program presented by a retired homicide detective, Al Buckley, who claims he knows who murdered Laura Foster, a much-loved part-time library aide who was bludgeoned to death fifteen years earlier. As he invites members of the audience to share stories about Laura, he suddenly keels over and dies.

The medical examiner reveals that poison is what did him in and Carrie feels responsible for having surged forward with the program despite push back from her director. Driven by guilt, Carrie’s determined to discover who murdered the detective, convinced it’s the same man who killed Laura all those years ago. Luckily for Carrie, she has a friendly, knowledgeable ghost by her side. But as she questions the shadows surrounding Laura's case, disturbing secrets come to light and with each step Carrie takes, she gets closer to ending up like Al.

Now it's due or die for Carrie in Death Overdue the delightful first in a new cozy series by Allison Brook.

Allison Brook is the pseudonym for Marilyn Levinson, who writes mysteries, romantic suspense and novels for kids. She lives on Long Island and enjoys traveling, reading, watching foreign films, doing Sudoku and dining out. She especially loves to visit with her grandchildren on FaceTime.

Special thanks to Lori at Great Escapes Book Tours for the chance to bring this promotion to you. (THANKS!) For more information on this title, the author, the publisher, THIS TOUR, or those on the horizon, feel free to click through the links provided above. This title is available now, so be on the lookout for it on a bookstore shelf or virtual retailer of your choosing.